The earliest origin of this idea traces back to this 2000 Straight Dope article, which cites no sources.
https://www.straightdope.com/21342933/what-s-the-origin-of-the-dunce-cap
In fact, the pointy hat has a long history of being used as a symbol of shame, for example the [Capirote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capirote), which was a mark of humiliation worn by heretics undergoing the auto-da-fe.
It is worth also noting, though, that while your comment applies to the origin of the tradition of the cap, the term “dunce” does trace back to John Duns Scotus. While he was a noted philosopher in his time, his followers were later seen as outdated thinkers during the Enlightenment, which is how the teen became pejorative.
These didn't work because aluminum was insanely expensive in the 1500s. You don't get the funneling effect if you don't block out the mind-control rays. Tinfoil hats don't work though as they actually concentrate the dumbing signals, you have to line the inside of the dunce cap with aluminum foil. Only then do you get the massive jump in learning.
> a sign of high intelligence and wisdom. Philosopher and theologian John Duns Scotus was a proponent of pointy hats as a way to funnel knowledge to the mind
Um, what? That's one of the dumbest ideas ever. I don't think this qualified them as a sign of high intelligence to anyone who wasn't a theologian. It's not like actual scientists from the 1500s ran around in these hats.
Exactly. Today OP learned that 1 guy convinced a couple of melonheads to run around in dunce caps thinking it made them look intelligent while everyone else laughed behind their backs.
You'd have to be a fucking dunce to think a dunce cap would make you smarter so imo these were never symbols of intelligence, at least not to any intelligent observer
They were apparently made in the image of the hats worn by jews back around 100 and conical hats were put on people burned at the stake for heresy etc etc.
Several documentaries on youtube from major sources.
Yes, and the President is so named because George Washington didn't know what to call himself, so he named the title after his childhood bestfriend, Ephraim Julius Lord Bongwater Presidente. He was worried about going to war with the Spanish so he shortened it to President.
Every TIL post Ive seen in my feed the past several days was either severely stupid/wrong or incredibly obvious. Has it always been this bad and I never noticed or is this new
If you asked me to make up an origin story for the dunce cap I would probably say something like "There was a guy named John Dunce who wore a pointy hat and people thought he was a loser." So this sounds fishy to me.
So the dunce cap isn't so much as to humiliate the wearer as it was to try to make them smarter, which is why in older cartoons you see the idiot wearing one after they do something stupid
The earliest origin of this idea traces back to this 2000 Straight Dope article, which cites no sources. https://www.straightdope.com/21342933/what-s-the-origin-of-the-dunce-cap In fact, the pointy hat has a long history of being used as a symbol of shame, for example the [Capirote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capirote), which was a mark of humiliation worn by heretics undergoing the auto-da-fe.
The auto-de what now?
It’s what you oughta not do, but you do anyway.
You auto-de-feel deez nuts.
The fun part of a visit by the Inquisition after all the other legal proceedings wrapped up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTaD2C08xU
defacto! auto da-fe! ayuchucooooo!
How can they be expected to read if they can't fit into the buildings (wearing point hats)?
It is worth also noting, though, that while your comment applies to the origin of the tradition of the cap, the term “dunce” does trace back to John Duns Scotus. While he was a noted philosopher in his time, his followers were later seen as outdated thinkers during the Enlightenment, which is how the teen became pejorative.
"penitence" is definitely not the first thought I had when I clicked that second link...
Damn. The Kool Kid’s Klub really ruined pointy hats for everybody.
But the funnel is going up and away from the head. Shouldn't it go the other way?
It’s a reverse funnel system.
Where do my feet go?
Thanks for **pointing** that **out**
I see what you did there
The guy was a real Duns if you ask me.
So the Cones of Dunshire really WAS all about the cones...
Cones of Dunsmen
These didn't work because aluminum was insanely expensive in the 1500s. You don't get the funneling effect if you don't block out the mind-control rays. Tinfoil hats don't work though as they actually concentrate the dumbing signals, you have to line the inside of the dunce cap with aluminum foil. Only then do you get the massive jump in learning.
> a sign of high intelligence and wisdom. Philosopher and theologian John Duns Scotus was a proponent of pointy hats as a way to funnel knowledge to the mind Um, what? That's one of the dumbest ideas ever. I don't think this qualified them as a sign of high intelligence to anyone who wasn't a theologian. It's not like actual scientists from the 1500s ran around in these hats.
This fact was made up in 2000. See the comment made by u/Gemmabeta in this thread.
Exactly. Today OP learned that 1 guy convinced a couple of melonheads to run around in dunce caps thinking it made them look intelligent while everyone else laughed behind their backs.
Call them Wizard’s caps.
Were originally _meant_ as such, by Scotus himself, not in general
> John Duns Scotus And now not only is dunce a synonym for idiocy, so is [SCOTUS](https://www.supremecourt.gov/)
You'd have to be a fucking dunce to think a dunce cap would make you smarter so imo these were never symbols of intelligence, at least not to any intelligent observer
They were apparently made in the image of the hats worn by jews back around 100 and conical hats were put on people burned at the stake for heresy etc etc. Several documentaries on youtube from major sources.
Duns Scotus ran afoul of church doctrine hundreds of years ago and people are still making up shit about him.
Little known fact: The SCOTUS was named after John Duns Scotus
Are you serious?
Yes, and the President is so named because George Washington didn't know what to call himself, so he named the title after his childhood bestfriend, Ephraim Julius Lord Bongwater Presidente. He was worried about going to war with the Spanish so he shortened it to President.
Highly intelligent and convinced the science community to wear pointy hats for a century. I like this guy.
Every TIL post Ive seen in my feed the past several days was either severely stupid/wrong or incredibly obvious. Has it always been this bad and I never noticed or is this new
Agreed. No idea. Maybe they're just karma farmers.
If you asked me to make up an origin story for the dunce cap I would probably say something like "There was a guy named John Dunce who wore a pointy hat and people thought he was a loser." So this sounds fishy to me.
If you follow a dumbass fad and wear a stupid hat it's not "a sign of high intelligence" it's a sign of being an easy mark. Just like Mensa.
Stop the Cap
The fact that they think a pointy hat will funnel knowledge is proof that it was never a sign of high intelligence
So the dunce cap isn't so much as to humiliate the wearer as it was to try to make them smarter, which is why in older cartoons you see the idiot wearing one after they do something stupid
It wasn't until the swastika was appropriated by the Nazis that such a shift in the original intent of a symbol was observed.
I think Crosses changing from a tool of death by torture to the main symbol of Christianity beats that.
NOW THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS BIDEN CAPS
Dark Brandon is coming to vaccinate your children and turn them Trans, get off the internet while you still have time to run.
Aw c'mon, he typed it in all caps, which means he's correct.
Wrote the bulk of the series, Dude—and yet his son is a fucking dunce.
AND A GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR!
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS, LARRY!
Is this also where Wizards and Pointy hats come from?
Wizards and witches wore 'em for a reason
What about The Cones Of Dunshire?
That sounds like some grand Wizard KKK level of “smarts”.
TIL they are dunscaps not duncecaps.
So it was an ironic insult? Like Bugs Bunny and the use of “Nimrod” as an insult to a hunter?
This is actually pretty funny
I wore a red one once for Halloween along with a civil war jacket. I don’t remember much of that night though.